(left to right) Three unidentified women, Georg Bidstrup, and Murray Martin at a craft fair booth featuring woodcarvings made by the Brasstown Carvers.
Two unidentified women staffing a John C. Campbell Folk School booth at a craft fair. Most of the items on display are woodcarvings by the Brasstown Carvers.
Brasstown Carver Martha Shaw Jordan Coffey (1916-2004) spent most of her childhood in upstate South Carolina before moving to the Brasstown area with her parents. She learned how to carve in 1968 when she was given an elephant napkin ring and she…
Two unidentified women work on woodcarvings or finish carvings made by the Brasstown Carvers, sitting in either a carving studio or part of the John C. Campbell Folk School Craft Department.
Brasstown Carver Betty Johnson (1933-2017) did not begin carving until later in her life, but she grew up watching the work of Nolan Beaver and other Brasstown Carvers. Her pastor, Rev. Hoyt Brown (also a Brasstown Carver), gave Betty her first block…
Dexter Dockery with a small turtle woodcarving and two large goose carvings, 1993. Brasstown Carver Dexter Dockery (1931-2015) hailed from Union County, GA. He was a pastor who began carving around 1939. Dexter learned carving primarily from Murray…
Abalee Ivester holding carved letter openers, 1993. Brasstown Carver Abalee Dockery Ivester (1920-1991) learned to carve in the 1970s after she had finished raising her children and retired from working public work. She was encouraged by her…
Betty Johnson and Max Johnson with small woodcarvings, 1993. Brasstown Carver Betty Johnson (1933-2017) did not begin carving until later in her life, but she grew up watching the work of Nolan Beaver and other Brasstown Carvers. Her pastor, Rev.…
Jack Carpenter stands with woodblocks he has cut into animal shapes for carving, 1993. Jack Carpenter (b. 1933) grew up in Robbinsville, NC. He first came to John C. Campbell Folk School as a woodcarving student in the 1950s. Jack worked in the Folk…